Sponsored by Ohio Humanities, the annual summer event known as Ohio Chautauqua brings history to life for audiences in various communities around the state. The Village of Clifton will host the event from June 13 - 17, 2017.
To hear details on the event listen to the WYSO Weekend interview below with Clifton Village Mayor, Alex Bieri, and check out the history of Ohio Chautauqua.
From Ohio Humanities:
Building on the 19th-century tradition established on the shores of New York’s Chautauqua Lake, Ohio Chautauqua is a five-day community event that combines living history performances, music, education, and audience participation into a one-of-a-kind cultural event the entire community will enjoy.
Daytime activities feature stimulating adult programs and hands-on workshops for youth hosted by local community organizations. Each evening, family and friends gather as live music fills the air. Then, a talented performer appears on stage, bringing a historic figure to life through personal stories and historic detail. This enriching and delightfully entertaining experience is perfect for every generation. With its warm, nostalgic vibe, this truly unique experience is sure to open minds and start conversations.
Chautauqua History
After their debut in 1874 as a summer class for Sunday school teachers, Chautauqua assemblies quickly expanded and spread throughout rural America until the mid-1920s. Chautauqua assemblies brought entertainment and culture for the whole community, with speakers, teachers, musicians, entertainers, preachers and specialists of the day. US President Theodore Roosevelt was quoted as saying that Chautauqua is “the most American thing in America.”
https://www.ohiohumanities.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Historic-Chautauqua-Stamp.jpgBy 1915, at the height of the Chautauqua Movement, nearly 12,000 communities had hosted a Chautauqua. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the movement died out. Most historians cite the rise of car culture, radio, and movies as the causes.
